Baillieu ducks police leak allegations

Victorian Premier
Ted Baillieu
and Deputy Premier
Peter Ryan
yesterday dodged questions over allegations that members of the state government leaked sensitive information as part of the recent leadership controversies at Victoria Police.

The lingering scandal around the controversial departure of chief commissioner
Simon Overland
and his deputy, Ken Jones, dominated state Parliament yesterday.

The opposition pursued Mr Baillieu and Mr Ryan over claims in The Age newspaper that parliamentary secretary for police Bill Tilley leaked a sensitive email to the media that Sir Ken had written to his wife.

The email detailed Sir Ken’s reservations over a meeting he had held with Mr Baillieu’s chief of staff Michael Kapel. The email said Sir Ken had used the meeting to raise concerns about the running of the force under Mr Overland.

Mr Andrews accused the government of inappropriately interfering in the operations Victoria Police. “That is a very, very serious issue," he said.

“I find it very difficult to understand, if Bill Tilley has done what he has reportedly done and apologised for that, the Premier could possibly retain confidence as the Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services."

Mr Andrews said Mr Baillieu’s failure to take action showed a weakness in his leadership.

“Any day the going gets tough, this Premier is curled up in a little ball hiding from the issues that matter," he said.

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Mr Baillieu told reporters the issue of the leaks was more a question for the media than his government.

Asked later in Parliament about when he heard of the allegations against Mr Tilley, Mr Baillieu said he became aware on Monday night that a story would be published in The Age.

“I don’t accept the assumptions that are at the basis of the question," he said.

Mr Ryan declined to answer questions in Parliament about when he found out about the allegations or whether Mr Tilley should be stood down while the allegations were investigated, citing investigations by the Office of Police Integrity.

Mr Ryan said it would be a breach of both “law and legislation" to comment on matter under investigation by the OPI.

The OPI confirmed in June it was investigating issues surrounding Sir Ken.

Mr Tilley declined to comment.

The OPI is investigating the conduct of Mr Ryan’s former adviser Tristan Weston. Mr Weston has been on paid leave for months pending the outcome of that investigation.

Mr Ryan also declined to comment when asked if he took responsibility for Mr Weston’s actions.